Challenge

This juice and jelly manufacture’s products have been a staple for consumers in more than 50 countries worldwide. But it hasn’t always been easy keeping up with evolving customer demand over the years. In 2006, the company began to face an increasing number of supply chain challenges related to the management of high-volume incoming and outgoing perishable goods. Production facilities were collecting more information on the flow of materials and inventory than ever before. They needed updated, more intuitive hardware and a more effective and accurate method for collecting and managing this data.

The manufacturer had already implemented Oracle® Process Manufacturing (OPM), but executives recognized that very few supply chain solutions would likely meet the company’s functionality requirements and, at the same time, integrate seamlessly with OPM and their current hardware on day one. In order to fully leverage their new enterprise system, they needed to find a best-in-class hardware and a data collection solution with the capabilities to:

• Improve inventory data integrity and accuracy;
• Increase speed of reporting processes;
• Reduce inventory, improving accurate on time deliveries;
• Provide management with better visibility from order through delivery;
• Streamline inventory and warehouse processes;
• Enable data synchronization, as required by an increasing number of customers; and
• Provide electronic capture of critical business data at time of creation.

Solution

After careful evaluation of all the options, the manufacturer selected TAKE Supply Chain’s Gemini Series® software solution. For the software, TAKE Supply Chain’s Gemini Series® was the only solution that met the manufacture’s stringent performance and compatibility criteria, and the only solution proven to increase the speed, visibility, accuracy, and control of extended manufacturing and distribution supply chains - especially within the food and beverage industries. Plus, Gemini’s “out of the box” integration with OPM made it the perfect fit for the manufacturer’s environment.

AbeTech sent a hardware specialist on-site to the production facility for hands-on demonstrations of various terminal computers, hand-held computers and label printers. Since AbeTech and TAKE Supply Chain have a long relationship, AbeTech knew exactly which hardware options to bring to the meeting. The company chose hardware that was more modern, faster, easier to use and easier to maintain than their previous hardware. Once the new devices and printers were chosen, TAKE made sure the new software worked perfectly with the hardware.

The manufacturer also concurrently implemented TAKE’s Compliance Label Manager™ (CLM), a barcode and radio-frequency identification (RFID) label management solution that automates labeling processes without the need to invest in new infrastructure, custom code, or consulting services. As a result, employees now use a combination of AbeTech supplied, Gemini-equipped forklift mount terminals, handheld computers, barcode scanners, and label printers to automatically and accurately record all data related to key operational transactions in real time, directly from the production shop floor.

Results

TAKE’s software and AbeTech’s hardware have significantly improved operational control, inventory accuracy, visibility, and order fulfillment since first automating its processes across three production warehousing locations in the U.S. in 2006. In fact, Gemini now controls all inventory data collection and management processes across the manufacturer’s entire product line of juices, spreads, and fruit products. Plus, it syncs it with OPM and all other relevant workflow applications.

As a result, the manufacturer can currently trace lots and batches within 24 hours and maintains a >99 percent visibility rate, which has enhanced overall productivity and quality levels across their operations. Inventory accuracy rates consistently exceed 99 percent as well, which executives note has been critical to sustaining their high-volume and high-velocity manufacturing environment. The additional CLM solution and AbeTech label printers have enabled key suppliers to barcode all shipments. The highly integrated warehouse operations system now automates the recording of key data around inventory and receiving.

If you have an Oracle ERP system, or if you need help managing a high-volume of incoming and outgoing perishable goods, AbeTech and TAKE Supply Chain have a proven solution for increased accuracy, visibility and tracking of your manufacturing operations. Contact AbeTech today for more information.

"For several years now we have been working with AbeTech. They have been our number one resource when it comes to hardware/software needs and just general technical questions. AbeTech is always very quick to respond to our questions and always seems to have the answers we are looking for. We are very happy we found AbeTech and look forward to building our future with AbeTech for years to come. ~Andersen Windows"

Andersen Windows

"Thank you for taking the time to work with us on the installation of the system to capture the serial number represented by the hexi-decimal number. It has been a long struggle to get to this point and you and your group have been the only ones that have been able to accomplish the task that I wanted to achieve. Your patience and courtesy certainly is a tribute to your professionalism. ~ AMBRACO"

AMBRACO

"AbeTech continues to provide the absolute best in response time and info provided. I got a response within the same minute I sent the request and the request was fulfilled in 8 minutes… TOP NOTCH! ~ AmeriPride Services Inc."